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FRAMINGHAM – Since June 25, there have been four reports of gunshots in the City of Framingham. Since 2020 began, there have been at least 8 reports of gunshots, including a double homicide in January.
Sunday afternoon, July 19, around 4:30 p.m. a confrontation between a couple of men erupted into gunshots. One of the bullets pierced the window of the newly-built Pelham Life Long Learning Center. Police are investigating but no one has been arrested. Thankfully no one was injured. Police said shell casings were found in the road.
“This happened in the middle of the day on a Sunday. Not a night, but in the afternoon. I worry about my son out playing with his friends,” said Ana, who did not wish to give her last name.
Ana is not alone in her worries about violence in the Second Street neighborhood. SOURCE talked to several residents on Monday and Tuesday, all were worried or frightened by the violence, but none wanted to give their first and last name for the record.
The Second Street gunshots were not the only gunshots on Sunday. About two hours later, police found a bullet hole in a van parked on Cedar Street.
And this was fourth incident of gunshots in the last 30 days, in South Framingham neighborhoods, of Districts 7, 8, and 9.
On July 15, residents in District 7 in the Hartford Street neighborhood reported hearing gunshots around 10:53 p.m. Six cruisers responded, but no shell casings were found.
On June 26, a resident of Bishop Street reported bullets had struck his house. Police found a bullet had entered an apartment bedroom through a window air-conditioner. This is a District 7 neighborhood.
All the incidents are under investigation by police, and no one has been arrested for any of the gunshots.
Earlier this year, on Friday, January 10 at approximately 11:37 p.m., Framingham Police responded to 9-1-1 calls of shots fired in the area of Second Street and Beaver Terrace Circle in Framingham.
Upon arrival, police located the two victims with multiple gunshot wounds. James “Manny” Wade was transported to MetroWest Medical Center where he subsequently died from his injuries. His son, James Wade, was pronounced dead on the scene.
During the investigation, police located an apartment where a bullet had travelled through the door into the interior of their house above where a 4-year-old child was sleeping.
Four days later on January 4, Framingham Police arrested Aneudy Delgado-Torres, 39, of Framingham. He charged with two counts of murder, possession of a large capacity magazine, possession of a firearm, and possession of ammunition in connection with the fatal shooting of James “Manny” Wade, 45 and his son James Wade, 24.
“I’m looking for an apartment,” said Marcos, who also did not want his last name published. “It’s not safe in this neighborhood anymore. I don’t want to raise my family here. With the pandemic, we have been stuck in this neighborhood, and my kids are not safe. Not even inside, after what happened earlier this year. We have been looking for months and can’t find a place we can afford. I want my family out of here.”
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After the double homicide in January, SOURCE asked City of Framingham Mayor Yvonne Spicer for a statement.
Her Public Information Officer released this. “While this was an isolated incident, nevertheless it is violence in our community. Neighbors were quick to alert authorities when they heard gunshots which resulted in immediate response by our Police Department. The police spent yesterday searching for and gathering evidence, as well as following up on leads. Based on investigative work by our police department, we have learned this was an isolated incident. There is no eminent threat to residents in Framingham.”
But those gunshots in January have not been isolated, considering four reports of gunshots since June 25.
And on June 6, a resident on John McGuinn Circle in District 3, reported a bullet hole in his house.
SOURCE reached out to the Mayor for a statement yesterday, July 21 at 4 p.m. on the recent gunshots.
No response from Mayor Spicer as of 3:55 p.m. on July 23.
SOURCE also reached out to the two at-large City Councilors and the three City Councilors, where there have been gunshots reports in the last 30 days.
“The seeming uptick in gun violence is shocking and very concerning. I am equally surprised of how little attention it has received. The Mayor has to show leadership on this issue, be transparent as to exactly what is happening in this neighborhood and how the City is responding. Hiding these events form the neighbors and the City will not make it better, it needs hard work on the part of all of us,” said City Council Chair George P. King. Jr.
“Gun safety is now a kitchen table issue in the minds of voters, alongside bread and butter concerns like healthcare, taxes and retirement security. This recent uptick reminds us that gun violence doesn’t go away, even during a pandemic. In fact, gun sales in America have peaked during these last few months. The current climate of fear, divisiveness and economic hardship is a troubling recipe that risks inducing further gun violence and Framingham is not immune, especially as we know gun violence takes a disproportionate toll on Black and brown communities,” said Samantha McGarry, a Framingham resident and volunteer with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense.
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“Dr. Sam Wong, Director, Public Health, presentation on South Framingham Community Engagement at the City Council meeting last night give us a good start and I am sure that if he continue his works listening to the residents we will learn more from about how to address their needs and how the City can act to improve the life conditions on District 9 in all aspects. The Economic Development can working together with the Health Department and the City Participation Officer to move forward,” said District 7 City Councilor Margareth Shepard.
“It is truly disturbing to see this senseless violence in our community. We need to send a clear message that there is no place for violence in Framingham,” said at-large City Councilor Janet Leombruno.
“The uptick in violence is troubling. The Spicer Administration needs to work with neighborhood and community leaders, police officers and social workers, to protect our residence and make our streets safe. Public safety needs to be job one for Framingham,” said District 8 City Councilor John Stefanini.
The van with the bullet hole on Sunday was located in District 8 on Cedar Street.
In May, more than a dozen cruisers responded to Arlington Street, on the border of Districts 8 & 9, but in District 8, for someone firing gunshots into the air.
No one was injured, said Framingham Police, but the incident was still very dangerous as the bullets can impact individuals coming down. Police found multiple shell casings. And last year, in the Tripoli neighborhood on Weybosset Avenue there was a drive-by shooting. Again no one was injured. but shell casings were recovered.
District 9 City Councilor Tracey Bryant did not respond to SOURCE for a statement.
“It is time for us – Mayor Spicer, City Councilors, neighborhood leaders and the Police – to come up with a plan addressing how to keep our neighborhoods safe. What happened this week occurred in broad daylight directly outside of a community center. We need to protect our children,” said Councilor Leombruno.
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Editor’s Note: SOURCE updated the report on July 23 with a quote from Moms Demand Action For Gun Sense and added reports of gunfire on Hartford Street in District 7 in July and a bullet home found in a house in District 3 in June.
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